Start with the high yield core

Quant feels vast, but a large share of questions lean on a compact core. Arithmetic topics such as ratios, percentages, averages, time and work, and time, speed, and distance appear constantly, often disguised inside other questions. Number properties, including factors, remainders, and divisibility, are equally central. Master this core thoroughly before drifting into exotic topics. Depth in a few high yield areas beats shallow exposure across the whole syllabus every time.

Arithmetic: ratios, percentages, averages, mixtures, work, speed
Numbers: factors, multiples, remainders, and divisibility rules
Algebra: linear and quadratic equations, basic inequalities

Build concepts before chasing shortcuts

Shortcuts are seductive but fragile when you do not understand why they work. Learn each concept from first principles, solve a handful of problems the long way, and only then adopt the faster method. This order matters, because CAT rarely asks a textbook question directly. It twists the setup, and only a genuine grasp of the idea lets you adapt. A memorised trick collapses the moment the question changes its shape slightly.

Keep an error log that teaches

After every practice session, record the questions you missed and the reason, whether a concept gap, a careless slip, or a wrong method choice. Review this log weekly and you will see patterns emerge, perhaps remainders trip you up or percentage change confuses you. That pattern is your real syllabus. Targeting your own recurring errors is far more efficient than solving hundreds of random problems and hoping your weak spots fix themselves.